Do you set holiday budgets and stick with it.

[homesteadmamma]

Yes we do and we stick with it more than we do with other budgets. Its become a habit with us.

You?

[seadream]

No, but then again I don't go crazy buying gifts

[Michelle]

Yes...I even have it set up in Excel: list of gifts and amount spent.

[QuilterMom]

Yes. We set a specific $ amount per person for gifts and a specific $ amount for each person's stocking. I keep lists of what I've purchased for dh and ds and dh keeps one for what he and ds buy me.

[niceday]

We don't go too crazy shopping we have x amount of dollars and try to stay within that range. We also give the same amount of money we spent on Christmas to our Lottie Moon Christmas offering at church.

[Dixie]

Yes, I set a budget. I usually end up spending a few hundred dollars more than budgeted, though.

[thrifty gal]

We do set a holiday budget, and for the most part we do stick to it.

[kimmee]

I know I should but I don't - I collect gifts all year and when I see something I just know someone might enjoy whether they are on my list or not - I just get it - I try not to make a big deal about how much spent but more emphasis ofn "hey you know this made me think of you so I got it for you." Does that make sense ?? It could be a gift I discovered for someone I met at the grocery store once and It makes me feel good to remember something about them and know that they might enjoy this thing. Being spontaneous and eratic aren't very condusive to a budget but then I am frugal about so many other things - this is kindof my little splurge...

[mom2matty]

I always have "good intentions" with a budget but rarely stick to it!! This year we are hoping to stick with the budget we agreed upon!

[Singlemomof2]

I do not and never had a budget for the holidays. Most every year I would through myself in to doing bigger and better than the prior year for the kids. I love the look they have when they see TONS of presents under the tree for them. If not for my finacial situation this year I would probably still be doing the same. Though because of that situation I look back and find that there were only one or two things out of everything under the tree that the kids really were interested it. They were just getting too much. My scale back this year is not so much financial but just buying one or two gifts that will be really appreciated and used for the kids, the finacial falls into place doing things this way.
I must brag on them, they know I am stressed over making sure we have enough propane to see us through till I can afford to fill the tank again. Brittany offered to just not have Christmas in order to use the money that was to be spent on presents to make sure we have propane. That will not be happening but God Bless her she is such a lil

[duckduckgoose007]

You know...this Christmas gift "road" is "paved with good intentions"

I started out great...then went down hill from there!

[sunshine]

We have a Christmas club account set up, and we don't spend more than we've saved. I shop year round for gifts, make lots of gifts, etc.

[ScrapMama]

We are starting to. Before we had children we used to give everyone 3 to 5 gifts, but this year with our 4th child on the way we are having a major reality check. We are getting each of the grandparents one nice thing and then for dh's parents they are also getting a gift certificate to dinner, but that's it. I'm almost done with dh, but I was much more reasonable this year about what I got him. I still have to get him a bday gift, but only one this year. I am making him a bday gift as well. He got me some nice things this year, but I picked them out, so I'm trying to talk him into being more reasonable with what he picks for me. It's amazing how fast money goes.

[mylittle4]

Yes we stick to a Christmas budget better than any other years budget. In years past we have always put a limit of $10 per person other than the kids. ( brothers sisters nieces nefews parents and so on). However this year I have so much fabric and other craft supplies ( the danger of working for Joanns) that i have challenged myself to do gifts for all extended family and teachers for less than $20.00. That list is about 30 people so I will be really proud of myself for accomplishing this plus I gat a lot of joy out of creating for someone and thinking about them while I am making their gift. I am a little stumped on a few of the mens gifts they are just harder to make for than women.

[Tootsiebella]

Yes we do, and pretty much stick to it too. It saves having to bring out cards and create debt. I put it in a christmas fund, but this year, I am starting my Freedom a/c.